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Contest poll, Bansal dares General
Chandigarh, April 22 Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, while addressing a rally at Mani Majra, said, “Nobody called him from his house to be a Governor. He has volunteered for public welfare and he must show it. The Administration is often far removed from reality. A former Chief Commissioner in the city had contested the parliamentary elections. He bagged only 600 votes. This Governor can try the same. People of Mani Majra could not be displaced in the name of cleanliness. The Administration should first give them an alternative place for settlement before carrying out an anti-encroachment drive, he said. Mr Bansal said “I will like to clarify that I am not in favour of encroachments. I have written to the Administration on this issue. However, people of Mani Majra are being evicted from their homes without being given an alternative site, which is unfair. A majority of them have lived here since ages”. Mr Bansal said he favoured a CBI inquiry into the cases of “land mafia” in the city. Others who spoke on the occasion were Mrs Anu Chatrath, Mayor, Mr Subhash Chawla, a former Mayor, and Mr H.S.Lucky, president of the local Youth Congress.
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Cong war of words continues
Chandigarh, April 22 The press note said, “Mr B.B. Bahl has chosen, for reasons best known to him, to support various anti-people actions of a section of the UT Administration. We will earnestly ask Mr Bahl to leave the luxuries of his hotel and come out to feel the difficulties of the people heaped upon by the insensitive Administration”. “We are happy that our crusade has at last moved the Administration to order action against the land mafia in the city. This has been our demand for the past many years. We would like this investigation to be conducted by the CBI. We recall an inquiry was marked by the Deputy Commissioner into unauthorised construction on the city’s periphery and land grabbing. When incriminating material against an officer surfaced, the inquiry was hushed up,” the note said. The note said Mr Bansal had written to the UT Administrator, bringing to his notice encroachments. “We are surprised to learn that the Administration is now trying to paint a picture as if its crusade against corruption is being thwarted. The reality is otherwise. There is large-scale corruption in the conduct of surveys about eligibility of slum-dwellers for EWS quarters and in the actual allotment,” the note said. It has also been pointed out that “people eligible for ration card have to run from pillar to post. The latest examples where the interests of the UT have been compromised with are in its excise policy and handing over of liquor vends to favoured ones”. The note has been signed by Mr Ram Pal Sharma, vice-president of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, Mr Subhash Chawla, general secretary, Mr D.D. Jindal, president (DCC-I), Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, president (DCC, Rural), Mr H.S. Lucky, president of the Chandigarh Youth Congress and Mr Pardeep Chhabra, former Senior Deputy Mayor.
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Police yet to trace owner of unclaimed pistol
Chandigarh, April 22 On the other hand, a senior police officer said that lack of coordination among various channels is also taking its toll. The Customs Department could also provide vital information in this regard. Mr Kulwant Singh further said that they are planning to adopt the backup investigation method to establish the ownership of the
weapon. He said the police will try to contact the US-based company that had manufactured the pistol to find its original owner to follow its subsequent buyers. This is a long channel, but we can adopt it in case we find no other clue. It may be recalled that a US-made pistol was found at the Sukhna Lake stairs on March 16. The weapon was believed to be in water for months and rust had set on it. The rust made its number illegible. The SHO of Sector 3 police station, Mr Kulwant Singh Pannu, told Chandigarh Tribune that after taking the weapon in possession they soaked it into oil to remove rust. After removing, it the police disintegrated the pistol and retrieved its number and make. The number and make found was: .450 inch, RTYM-1911 A.I., US Army and patented April 20, 1897, September 9, 1902,DECO1905, February 14, 1911, August 19, 1913 (a horse was engraved on the weapon) ClTS PT, FAMFG Company HART FORD-CT, USA. "After retrieving this information about the pistol a message was flashed all over India. We gave a gazette notice, informed the Crime Record Branch Office, National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi. The information was sent to all Senior Superintendents of Police, all Deputy Commissioners, Commandants of military and para-military forces across the country on March 18. This exercise was meant to establish the ownership of the weapon and also an effort to find out whether the weapon was used in any crime. We are now waiting for a response from these agencies", said Janak Singh Rana, in-charge of Sukhana Lake police post.
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Sanitation workers go on strike
Panchkula, April 22 The sanitation workers assembled near the Sector 4 market at around 8. 30 am. They raised slogans against the sanitation contractor and the municipal council for not releasing the payment and thus not paying their salaries. The workers also alleged that they were being made to work for long hours as the contractor has hired only 250 workers as against the stipulated 417 workers he is supposed to hire. Rajesh, one of the workers, alleged that though the municipal council paid the contractor Rs 2,300 per worker, he paid just Rs 1,500 to the worker, and pocketed the rest of the money. “We cannot even complain as he throws out all people who protest. There are no labour rules binding on him. For the past two months we have not been paid our wages, and in February, we were paid just Rs 1,000 each,” he rued. Another worker alleged that they were being exploited by the contractor, who is supported by the MC authorities. “ We have lodged complaints against him to MC officials, but they have never acted in our favour,” he alleged. The workers, after throwing garbage on various roads, marched towards the Sector 8 residence of Deputy Chief Minister and local MLA, Mr Chander Mohan. They submitted a memorandum to Mr Chander Mohan and demanded that minimum wages notified by the government be given to them. Mr Chander Mohan assured them that action would be taken against contractor and their demands would be met. They declared that they would be on strike
till April 25. Later, the workers were summoned by the acting president of council,
Ms Vandana Disodia. A meeting was held with the contractor, who assured that the dues of all workers would be cleared by Monday, following which the workers called off their strike.
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Sack corrupt officers summarily: Hota
Chandigarh, April 22 In Chandigarh for delivering a lecture on administrative reforms organised this afternoon by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Mr Hota says: “Anyone caught accepting bribe or having disproportionate assets should be summarily dismissed from service. In fact, the law permits it”. The employee can be given a post-decision hearing in accordance with the principles of natural justice. If found innocent, he can be reinstated with all consequential benefits, Mr Hota adds. Commenting upon the Central Bureau of Investigation’s role in the crusade against corruption, he says that the agency — incidentally a “power hungry institution” — should deal with corruption at higher places. “Why should its sleuths visit the office of a junior engineer on the basis of a complaint?“ he questions. “The engineer’s superior should be taking action, like dismissal from service, after looking into the matter.” Mr Hota adds, “A broad-minded high-level committee can also be established to scrutinise the complaints and give consent for the registration of a first information report against an employee, if necessary”. Referring to the current scenario, he says, “Corruption among IAS and IPS officers was something unheard of earlier. But, now so many officers have lost self respect.... Unless an officer with power develops self-respect or is given respect, he will not remain honest.” Elaborating upon his contention, Mr Hota says, “IPS officers in India are all very competent. But attack on their self-respect through too much of interference, politicking and whispering instructions has destroyed the force.” Mr Hota’s report containing recommendations aimed at improving the functioning of the all-India services with the Cabinet Secretary. Talking about the recommendations, he says the tenure of civil servants should be prescribed. Quoting the findings recorded in a book, he says, “Only 6 per cent of IAS officers stayed at a post for over three years during the period under study.... How can you make a dent in such a short duration? As such, the tenure for each post should be prescribed and no minister should be allowed to transfer an officer before the tenure’s completion.” He adds, “The establishment board must take a view if the officer has to be transferred, before the end of his tenure, in larger public interest. Otherwise, frequent transfers will result in total breakdown of the system.” Performance parameters should also be set, Mr Hota adds. “Slogans and elaborate notes on files are not enough. The civil servants should be given targets and their work assessed accordingly.’’
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Dual-degree courses a success, says VC
Chandigarh, April 22 Offering as many as 27 varied disciplines under the dual-degree system, the university allows the students to graduate with a degree of BA along with B.Sc in four years. “The dual-degree courses are a great success as they equip the students with two different disciplines by studying the subjects of their choice. In the range of combinations that we offer, a student can study psychology along with physics and computers and get a degree of humanities and science at the end of four years,’’ says the Vice Chancellor of Annamalai University, Dr L.B. Venkatrangan. He was in the city for the inauguration of the new session of the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD) here. “To the NIFD students of the city, we are offering three new courses in distance learning — M.Sc in fashion design, textile design and interior design through our distance education and learning programme,’’ he informs. Counting the other pioneering steps taken by the university, which is attracting more than 2.65 lakh students for its on-campus and correspondence courses, Dr Venkatrangan says that their World Health Organisation (WHO)-funded diploma in tobacco control is the first of its kind in the country. “In fact, we have succeeded in completely banning smoking from our campus. Now, we would focus on banning liquor,’’ he quips. Another major focus area for the VC is to tie up with good foreign universities to offer degrees and exchange programmes. “We have tie-ups with universities in Austraila, the USA, Japan, Cambodia, France, Singapore and Switzerland. Currently, we are working on starting exchange programmes with a Canadian university,’’ adds the VC. Talking about its much-appreciated distance education programme, Dr Venkatrangan says that the university is at present offering as many as 326 courses and has recently set up the facility of video-conferencing to address students at faraway places. “Our main focus while running various courses is the employability of the students. Placements and job opportunities are the main thrust of our courses,’’ sums up the VC.
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Jilted and threatened, Amandeep
Chandigarh, April 22 Jilted by the man who promised to take her as his wife, she is now fighting hard to redeem her honour. A day into the battle and her life is already under threat, or so she claims. Fearing loss of life from the relatives of her lover Ravinderjeet Singh, Amandeep Kaur moved the district court in Chandigarh today, bringing all her apprehensions on record. Dejected and demoralised, she looked frail and spent, as she shed tears over a soured relationship which has robbed her of all her rights. She has been disowned by her parents as well as the man she trusted the most. In the civil suit, Amandeep has sought immediate judicial intervention for the restoration of her dignity as a woman and a “wife”. She has clearly voiced her fears, asking the court to issue a permanent injunction preventing her “husband” Ravinderjeet Singh from marrying another woman till the pendency of the case. Amandeep Kaur managed to stall her “lover’s” marriage to one Kulwinder Kaur yesterday. She also approached the Punjab State Women’s Commission with her complaint, besides forwarding a copy to the police station in Naya Gaon, which was the location of her affair and consequent “marriage” to Ravinderjeet Singh. Although as of now the girl has no proof of her matrimony, she has placed an affidavit on record stating that she is Ravinsderjit’s legally wedded wife and that she be treated as one. Speaking to the Tribune today she said, “Ever since I publicly shared my pain, I am being harassed by the boy’s side. They have been after my life for a day now. They are enraged because I dared to speak against them.” While the claims remain to be ascertained, the girl, in her civil suit, has further requested the court to treat her as Ravinderjeet’s wife, besides stating that she had reasonable apprehension that he would marry some other woman. Bringing the fact that she was being threatened on record in the civil suit, Amandeep Kaur has asked for protection of her life and dignity. The case has been filed in the court of Sandeep Kumar Singla, Civil Judge (Junior Division), and will come up for hearing shortly. Meanwhile, Amandeep Kaur has been asked to leave her rented accommodation in Naya Gaon by her landlady who was promising to support her cause until yesterday. With nowhere to go, she landed in the office of her lawyer this morning, and some human rights activists have come forward to help her fight the legal battle. She has been moved to a safer, undisclosed destination where she will live till something concrete comes out of the case.
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Cash, jewellery stolen
Panchkula, April 22 The police informs that Mr Duni Chand Tandon,
a resident of Model Town in Pinjore, was away for some work to Ambala, when the incident took place. His entire house was ransacked and cash, gold jewellery, electronic goods, silver utencils were stolen from his house. In another incident, cash and goods worth several thousands have been stolen from the house of Mr Prahlad Kumar Pathak in Sector 11 here. Mr Pathak is away to Mumbai. His neighbours noticed that the front door of his house was broken and they informed his daughter, who stays in Chandigarh. The latter
in turn called the police and they found the house ransacked.
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Car taken away at gunpoint
Mohali, April 22 They damaged a car parked in the house and later woke up a driver sleeping in another car. They ordered the driver at gunpoint to take the vehicle away from the area and later told him to get off. As soon as the driver alighted they drove off with the car. The police has registered a case on the statement of the driver under the Arms Act and various sections of the IPC.
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Passing Thru
What is your perception of the Indian market?
Of the 40 to 50 million watches sold in a year, 20 per cent forms the luxury watch segment. Of this, 70 per cent of the market belongs to the Swatch Group which comprises Omega, Longines, Rado, Tissot and Swatch watches. Delhi and Mumbai
are the biggest markets currently. Why did you then think of launching this exhibition from Chandigarh? We are looking at the city in a big way in terms of faster growth. We know that people here are conscious of good brands. Where does India
figure in the world watch market? We have a while to go before we are in the top 10 markets in the world. China is leaps and bounds ahead of us. Every second year, trends change and people buy new watches. In that sense we, in India, still value tradition and do not go in for a watch overhaul. What is the range of your watches? We have Swatch watches from as low as Rs. 1000 and have watches going up to one crore rupees. — Gayatri Rajwade
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Beopar mandal, POWA back on collision course
Chandigarh, April 22 While the CBM claims that the Prime Minister has assured of a “balanced Act”, property owners have come down heavily on the assertions of the mandal saying that the “law should take its own course”. On April 18, the Supreme Court had adjourned the Rent Control Act case. Earlier, the apex court had given an interim relief to tenants staying its implementation in the city. “Crying hoarse to the demands for a balanced Rent Control Act, the leadership of the CBM is proving true to the most common human behavioural trait that “a facility long-enjoyed when withdrawn draws flak”, said Mr R.P. Malhotra, general secretary of the POWA. “Why don’t tenant bodies learn to consider real estate as a commodity to be traded and rented like other goods? When an essential commodity such as petrol can be decontrolled, why not rentals be governed by demand and supply forces,” he argued. Regulatory rent laws, balanced under the Transfer of Property Act, provide for eviction proceedings. Similarly, the rent revision was governed by contractual agreement between the tenant and landlord and the disputes were settled through courts, he said. Trying and defying all three — legislature, judiciary and executive, — the CBM had lost logic by demanding a Rent Act balanced and controlled, too, when there already existed a balanced rent regulatory provisions to safeguard both tenants as well as landlords under the Transfer of Property Act, the POWA member contended. POWA members are all out for cordiality of relationship between tenants and owners and have urged the CBM to pave the way for congeniality of atmosphere. Meanwhile, spokesperson for CBM Jagdish Kalra hoped that justice would be served by the Supreme Court.
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CII housing proposal for Baddi to get nod soon
Baddi, April 22 The proposal mooted to provide housing accommodation to over 1 lakh workforce employed in over one thousand small, medium and large-scale units. With migrant labour force
containing to pour in the industrial belt in record numbers and compulsion of units to engage 70 per cent of the work force as bonafide Himachalis, the lack of housing had come up a major problem. More over number of new units had multiplied after the announcement of Central Government industrial package. Officials said it would take one or two month for the final approval of the proposal. As per the proposal there was a plan to set up 20 cluster housings, which would be two-storey studio apartments. The approximately area for per dwelling will be of 200 to 250 sq. with total cost of Rs 1 lakh for per unit. The total cost for proposal that will provide hosing to 6000 persons was around Rs 30 crore. Canara Bank will finance the proposal and the CII’s would facilitate a Memorandum of Understanding between Canara Bank and Department of Industries, HP. The proposal would be co-coordinated by a governing body that would include Director Industries, DC, Solan, GM Industries, Solan, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of CII HP State Council, president and vice-president of BBN and Parwanoo Industries Associations and local MLA besides officials from Canara Bank, Town and Country Planning and Electricity Board. The availability of water and electricity on proposed land, land proximity to the Industries, agriculturist willingness to spare one bigha land with right of passage for 20 dwellings cluster and agriculturist should have self-sustaining viability for livelihood after providing the land for housing proposal were some criteria for selecting land for proposal.
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City witnesses solar aurora
Chandigarh, April 22 Interestingly, a similar aurora may also be found around the moon and called a moon aurora.
The phenomenon manifests in the form of a ring around the sun and creates an impression of a circle which can be
easily seen with the naked eye. Prof S.K. Sharma from Solar Energy Department at Panjab University says, “These are atmospheric conditions that occur in normal course of time. They are caused by meteorological alterations, normally because of dust, water vapour and other factors (gases) that gather around the sun and form a sort of haze. When light passes through this haze, it gets reflected. And mostly it is the long wavelength colour that gets reflected creating the pattern of a ring”.
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Maps of 34 villages digitised
Mohali, April 22 The digitised maps were presented to the Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Ms Seema Jain, by Dr S.P. Dhawan, Head of Computational Engineering Lab, PEC, along with Mr Rajiv Sehdev, coordinator. The district administration had assigned the job of digitising the map of 34 villages to PEC, Chandigarh. The revenue data was supplied by the administration and the aerial photography was done by the Town and Country Planning Department. The revenue data was first digitised up to khasra detail and was later superimposed by aerial photography. In order to get this superimposition accurate, global positioning survey (GPS) was done. The entire project was coordinated by Ropar district Town Planner Gurpreet Singh. Ms Jain pointed out that every piece of land had been registered in the computer and the data could be retrieved with the click of mouse. Ms Jain added that the data could also be used by different departments for future projects. The digitalisation of data of these 34 villages of Majri block would be formally announced in the first week of May in the presence of the village sarpanches, lambardars and prominent persons of the area. Ms Jain appreciated the efforts of the district Town Planner and PEC, Chandigarh, for preparing the digital maps and said the next step would be to prepare digital map of Mohali on the Chandigarh pattern.
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3 nominated hearing committee members
Chandigarh, April 22 Mr Joginder Singh Bhogal, Mr Chander Mukhi Sharma and Mr Arvind Jain will be the members of the committee formed under the Schedule-I of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification-1994 as amended in July, 2004, under the Environment Protection Act-1986. While Mr Sharma is a Councillor, Mr Jain is the person who had taken on the administration against the Rent Act and even contested the Lok Sabha poll in May, 2004. Mr Bhogal is an old Congressman who has been on the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee. Additional Deputy Commissioner Inderjit Singh Sandhu will be the nominee of the government. A public hearing has to be carried out by a panel of experts for the development project.
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Police patrol vehicles again on roads
Mohali, April 22 The authorities made arrangement of petrol from the petrol station in the Police Lines at Ropar early morning and all 13 motor cycles were functioning normally. Almost all motor cycles with the police control room remained without fuel yesterday as the petrol quota was suddenly slashed. The patrolling parties were compelled to move on foot or use their personal vehicles In a letter from the office of the SSP, Ropar, which had specified new fuel expenditure limits, police personnel had been directed to implement the new guidelines. The personnel were asked not to exceed specified limits and in case an employee spent more on fuel than what had been specified, the amount would be deducted from his pay. As patrol vehicles had already consumed petrol according to slashed limits, these remained offroad.
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Check earth’s exploitation, students urged
Mohali, April 22 Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dildar Khan, Director-in-charge, JSS, said the objective of the programme was to sensitise and create awareness among the youth and common people about various issues concerning the earth. He said one should be conscious while using natural resources because the earth was the “mother of mothers”. It was vital for the survival of human beings as well as animals and plants. It provided everything that was essential for survival. “But, today the earth is under tremendous pressure due to ruthless exploitation of natural resources by man to fulfil his greed, which is one of the main causes of
pollution," he said. Even Chandigarh, the City Beautiful, was not free from pollution, said Mr Khan. The air pollution level in Chandigarh sometimes reached up to 162 - 165 SPM during busy hours. Sound pollution in certain areas of Chandigarh like Aroma Chowk, Madhya Marg and bus stand crossed the normal limit of 65 decible. There was need for sensitising people and motivate a few NGOs to give priority to environmental concerns. Prof Asha Sethi traced the process of human evolution from the Stone Age. Mr Anand Mohan Sharma, Programme Officer of the JSS, raised the issue of the rapidly growing population. He mentioned that the world’s population was five million about 10,000 years ago. Now, it had crossed the 6000 million mark. Such rapid growth had put tremendous pressure on natural resources.
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Stamp released on Earth Day
Chandigarh, April 22
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Celebrating 35 years of first Moon landing
Chandigarh, April 22 The watch company introduced its limited edition of Speedmaster Professional Apollo 11 Insignia to commemorate the 35th anniversary of man’s first landing on moon. Mr P.H. Narayanan, brand manager for the company, said: “Out of the 15 watches earmarked for sale in India, 13 have already been bought.” The display, open to public from April 22 to April 27, also has a space suit worn and the Lunar Rover driven by Apollo 17 Astronaut Eugene Cernan on moon as well as the Sojourner — the Mars Rover.
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Mahavir Jayanti celebrated
Chandigarh, April 22 On the way, bhajans were recited and the environment was filled with devotions. Jains of Chandigarh, Panchkula and other adjoining areas took part in the procession.
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Market panel chief’s election on April 28
Chandigarh, April 22 The election will be videographed for fairness. Deputy Commissioner, Arun Kumar, said conduct of election and conduct of no-confidence motion are got done by the Deputy Commissioner. Result of the election shall be declared the same day. Previous Chairman of the market committee, Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, was removed following a no-confidence motion and this led to a war of words with Badheri and several Congressmen feeling unhappy over the outcome of the no-confidence motion.
TNS
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Local doctor elected national body vice-chief
Chandigarh, April 22 The association constituted recently also has representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board, HUDCO, the World Bank, the USAID, the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Urban Development. The following have been elected office-bearers of the association: president — Mr R. Dass (Director in-chief of the Conservancy and Sanitation Engineering, Delhi Municipal Corporation); junior vice-president — Mr H.C. Ananthaswamy (an executive engineer in the Bangalore Municipal Corporation); and general secretary — Mr A.K. Vidyarthi (an assistant environmental engineer in the CPCB).
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BSP dharna on April 25
Chandigarh, April 22
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Id celebrated
Chandigarh, April 22
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Labourer commits suicide
Chandigarh, April 22 The incident came to light when a friend of the deceased came at his residence in the morning at around 9 am. The visitor found the door of the house locked from inside, he knocked at the door but no reply came from inside. After a while, he pushed open the door and saw the body of Kandam hanging from the ceiling fan hook in the room. He called the police and the body was taken to General Hospital, Sector 16, where he was declared dead. The police said the suicide note was written in Tamil language. The police contacted a Tamil knowing man who read out the contents of the suicide note to the police. The body was handed over to family members without performing a post-mortem, the police added.
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Notice to Returning Officer, sarpanch
Panchkula, April 22
The trio had filed a petition saying that the sarpanch elect, Jai Singh, was ineligible to contest for elections as he had served a sentence in a jail. Two booked: Two students — Naresh and Saleem who were appearing for their Class X examination through National Open School were caught red handed while using unfair means. They were caught by the flying squad in a centre in Old Panchkula.
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Rs 1000 stolen from car
Chandigarh, April 22 The bag contained Rs 1000 in cash and a mobile phone. The police has registered a case of theft under Section 379 of the IPC at the Sector 17, police station. Gamblers arrested:
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Timex Trading ties up with Masonite International
Mohali, April 22 He made the gathering aware of the history of the project. He said that Masonite International Corporation enjoyed 65 per cent global market share in doors and catered to customers in over 50 countries. The corporate headquarters of the company were based in Canada and had a research and development facility in the USA. Mr Arvinder Singh, a partner of Timex Trading, said that the doors were manufactured with phenolic resin bonded densified wood fibre plates which were imported from the corporation. He said the doors were available in different sizes and textures and were from problems faced in the case of traditional wooden doors.
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MLA opens store
Mohali, April 22 Amartex flouting rules?:
The 1-acre industrial unit owned by Amartex is a garment manufacturing unit and only a factory outlet for sale of garments manufactured in the unit is allowed. Mr Grover, Managing Director of the company, explained that he had sought permission to allow commercial use of industrial plots of area less than 5 acres.
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